Chapter 3: The Person at the Door
The front door opened.
A woman stepped inside.
She stopped when she saw all four faces staring at her.
Maya recognized her immediately.
She was wearing a charcoal coat and carrying a small leather purse.
“Why is everyone looking at me like that?”” she asked.
Nobody answered.
Arthur's face had gone completely still.
Rose gripped the back of the sofa.
Jordan lowered his phone.
Maya felt her heartbeat pounding against her ribs.
“Who is she?”” Maya asked.
The woman looked at Arthur.
He didn't speak.
Then she looked at Maya.
“I'm sorry. I thought Arthur told you.””
“Told me what?””
The woman shifted her purse to her other hand.
Arthur stepped forward.
“Denise, you need to leave.””
Denise frowned.
“Why?””
“Now.””
Maya moved between them.
“No.””
Arthur looked at her.
“Maya.””
“No one is leaving.””
Denise glanced around the room.
Her eyes landed on the hospital receipts scattered across the coffee table.
“Oh.””
She slowly exhaled.
“You found out.””
Maya's stomach tightened.
“Found out what?””
Denise looked at Arthur.
Arthur's jaw flexed.
“Don't.””
Denise's eyebrows rose.
“Don't what?””
“Say anything.””
Maya turned toward her father.
“Why are you telling her not to talk?””
Arthur said nothing.
Maya looked back at Denise.
“Do you know about my eighteen thousand dollars?””
Denise's face changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
“Yes.””
Rose gasped.
“How?””
Denise swallowed.
“I was there when the payment was arranged.””
Maya stared at her.
“You were there?””
Denise nodded.
“Arthur asked me to help.””
Arthur's voice sharpened.
“That isn't what happened.””
Denise looked at him.
“You want to do this now?””
Maya stepped closer.
“What exactly did my father ask you to help with?””
Denise opened her mouth.
Arthur grabbed her arm.
“Denise.””
She looked down at his hand.
“Let go.””
He did.
Jordan moved toward Maya.
“Don't touch her.””
Arthur stared at his son.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
Jordan held up his phone.
“I know about account 4418.””
Denise went pale.
Arthur closed his eyes.
Maya looked at Jordan.
“Tell me.””
Jordan nodded.
“The hospital refunded the eighteen thousand dollars.””
“I know.””
“It went to Dad's account.””
“I know.””
“And then someone transferred the money out.””
Maya's voice dropped.
“Who?””
Jordan looked at Denise.
Denise shook her head.
“No.””
Maya's eyes widened.
“You know?””
Denise looked toward the floor.
“I know where it went.””
Rose's knees nearly buckled.
She sat down.
“Arthur…”
Arthur turned toward her.
“Mom—”
“Don't call me that.””
He stopped.
Rose's eyes were filled with tears.
“You told me my insurance wasn't enough.””
Arthur looked away.
“You told Maya she had to save me.””
Silence.
“You watched her cry at that kitchen table,” Rose continued.
“You watched her count every dollar she had.””
Maya remembered it.
Three months earlier.
The kitchen table.
Her laptop open.
Her savings account balance on the screen.
She had stared at the number for almost ten minutes before clicking *TRANSFER*.
She remembered Arthur standing behind her.
Family takes care of family.
Those had been his exact words.
Maya looked at him now.
“You said family takes care of family.””
Arthur's eyes met hers.
“I meant it.””
“No.””
Her voice shook.
“You meant I should take care of everyone.””
Arthur looked wounded.
“That isn't fair.””
Maya laughed through her tears.
“Fair?””
She picked up one of the receipts.
“I missed rent.””
Arthur said nothing.
“I stopped paying my student loan.””
Still nothing.
“I sold the necklace Mom gave me.””
Rose covered her mouth.
“Maya…”
“I did all of that because Dad told me Grandma could lose her house if the hospital wasn't paid.””
Arthur's face tightened.
“I never said she would lose the house.””
“You implied it.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
He had no answer.
Denise finally spoke.
“From the truth.””
Everyone turned.
Arthur's face hardened.
“Denise, stop.””
She looked at Maya.
“Your grandmother's surgery was fully covered.””
Maya nodded slowly.
“I know.””
“The eighteen thousand dollars was refunded.””
“I know.””
“It went into Arthur's account.””
“I know.””
Denise took a breath.
“And then…”
Arthur suddenly shouted.
“Enough!””
His voice shook the room.
Rose stood.
“Let her finish.””
Arthur stared at his mother.
Rose's expression was no longer confused.
It was devastated.
Denise opened her purse.
She pulled out a folded document.
Maya watched her place it on the coffee table.
“What is that?””
Denise pushed it toward her.
“A bank authorization.””
Maya unfolded it.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Her name wasn't there.
Rose's name was.
Arthur's name was beneath it.
And at the bottom was a signature.
Maya's heart stopped.
“That isn't Grandma's signature.””
Rose leaned closer.
Her face drained of color.
“No.””
She touched the paper with trembling fingers.
“I never signed this.””
Jordan stepped forward.
“Then who did?””
Denise looked at Arthur.
Arthur backed away.
Maya's eyes moved from the document to her father.
“Dad…”
Arthur shook his head.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
“I was going to fix everything.””
“Where is the money?””
Arthur said nothing.
Maya's voice became barely audible.
“Where did my eighteen thousand dollars go?””
Arthur looked toward the document.
Then toward Denise.
Then at Rose.
Finally, he looked at Maya.
And whispered:
“It wasn't supposed to be your money.””
Maya froze.
“What does that mean?””
Arthur's phone suddenly rang.
He pulled it from his pocket.
The caller ID showed a name Maya had never seen before.
*ELENA.*
Arthur stared at the screen.
Denise whispered, “Oh no.””
Jordan stepped closer.
“Who is Elena?””
Arthur didn't answer.
The phone kept ringing.
Maya watched his thumb hover over the screen.
Then Arthur answered.
A woman's voice came through the speaker.
“Arthur, they know about the eighteen thousand.””
Arthur's face went white.
Maya's blood turned cold.
May you like
The woman continued:
“And if Maya knows about the other account, you’re finished.””
